These Oatmeal Rolls are a favorite of mine. I've made them for at least 10 years, and now you need this recipe too. It's slightly modified from these Heavenly Oatmeal Molasses Rolls on Food52, and is a solid winner. In fact it won first prize for a dinner rolls contest.
This is a yeasted bread, but I promise, it's easy. And I've got pictures for shaping the rolls.
These rolls are slightly sweet from brown sugar and molasses, and sooooo soft. They're enriched with egg and milk – although, I used oat milk in place of milk.
I bake a fair amount of breads, and find that incorporating oats into a dough produce a moist bread. Oatmeal bread, if you've never made it, is the BEST! But I also used it for extra moistness in these Apple Cheddar Muffins.
How Can I Substitute Instant Yeast for Active Dry Yeast?
I usually use Active Dry Yeast because it's more readily available, but if you have Instant Yeast, you can use it instead. Many bakers prefer Instant Yeast because it dissolves instantly when it comes into contact with liquid. Here are some rules for making this substitution:
- Reduce the amount of yeast by 25%.
- Skip the step of dissolving the yeast in the warm water, and whisk it directly into the flour.
- You must still add the 1/4 cup liquid to the dough that's called for dissolving the Active Dry Yeast, in addition to the milk.
Best Milks to Use
I used oat milk, but you can use regular whole milk or 2% milk as well.
Tips For Making PERFECT Oatmeal Rolls
I heat the oat milk in the microwave oven for a fast heating.
Be sure to cool the butter – oat milk liquid before adding the eggs. If it's too warm, the eggs will start to resemble scrambled eggs.
These rolls don't rise a great deal in the first rising since it's done in the refrigerator. A refrigerator rise causes a slow rise, and the slower the rise, the more flavor gets created.
Follow the instructions for shaping the rolls. This creates layers of structure to them.
Recommended Equipment
Many yeasted breads use various tools and equipment to make the bread-making go easier or quicker. Here are a few tools I recommend for most any baking project.
Instant Read Thermometer to measure the temperature of the water for proofing the yeast, and to check the bread temperature.
Kitchen Scale to weigh the flour and the dough after the first rise.
Flexible Dough Scraper for folding in the flour and transferring the dough.
Straight-Edge Bench Scraper for dividing the dough into individual rolls.
9-inch Round Cake Pan or Springform Pan for baking the rolls.
For a complete list of my recommended kitchen tools and equipment, go check out my Storefront on Amazon!
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Each month, a group of us get together to bake bread along a pre-chosen theme. This month's theme is Whole Grain Breads! Big thanks to Wendy at A Day in the Life on the Farm blog for hosting us this month!
Whole Grain Breads
- A Day in the Life on the Farm: Easy Peasy Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls
- Zesty South Indian Kitchen: Einkorn and Spelt Whole Wheat Flour Sourdough Bread
- Passion Kneaded: Marble Wheat Loaf
- The Wimpy Vegetarian: Oatmeal Rolls with Molasses (recipe below!)
- Magical Ingredients: Multigrain Carrot Rolls
- Culinary Adventures with Camilla: Multigrain Sourdough Boules
- Making Miracles: Seedy Soft Sandwich Bread
- Food Lust People Love: Sourdough Sprouted Spelt Blini
- Sneha's Recipe: Spelt Banana Bread
- Palatable Pastime: Spent Grain Whole Wheat Bread
- A Messy Kitchen: Sweet Wheat Braids
- Karen's Kitchen Stories: Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Bread
- Ambrosia: Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bread
Oatmeal Rolls with Molasses
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup lukewarm water (110˚- 115˚F)
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast, or 1 1/2 teaspoons if baking at high altitudes
- Pinch sugar
- 3/4 cup oat milk, add 3/4 extra teaspoon if baking at high altitudes
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar, the link shows you how to make your own!
- 3/4 cup rolled oats, plus more for sprinkling on top before baking
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 large egg
- 11.25 ounces unbleached bread flour, this is 318 grams or 2 1/2 cups
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
Proof the Yeast
- Fill a measuring with 1/4 cup lukewarm water (110˚-115˚F). Use a thermometer to check the temperature of the water. Stir in the yeast with a pinch of sugar. Place it in a warm spot in the kitchen. In winter, I find a patch of sun for it. Let stand until bubbly. If it doesn’t get bubbly after 20 minutes, throw it out and get some new yeast.
Make the Dough
- Heat the oat milk to very hot. It doesn't need to be simmering, but should be hot enough to melt butter. I often just pour it into a measuring cup and heat it up in the microwave.
- Place the pats of butter in a large mixing bowl. Pour the hot oat milk over them. When they melt, stir in the brown sugar, oats, molasses and salt. Stir the mixture with a large wooden or metal spoon until smooth.
- Cool slightly and add the egg. Mix well, and add the yeast and its liquid. Mix well again.
- Add the flour, 1 cup at a time, using a flexible bench scraper to fold it into a dough. If it's more humid where you live, you may need 3 cups of flour (13.5 ounces). The dough will lose its sheen when you've added enough flour. All the flour should be thoroughly incorporated into the dough. Cover the dough with plastic, and allow it to rest for 5 – 10 minutes.
First Rise
- While the dough rests, oil a clean, large mixing bowl, and clear out an area for it in the refrigerator. Scrape the dough into the clean bowl using the flexible bench scraper. Turn it over to coat the dough with oil on all sides. Cover again with plastic.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. An overnight chilling is even better. It will rise some, but not double in size.
Shape the Rolls
- Turn out the chilled dough onto a lightly floured work surface, and knead it a few times. Weigh the dough, and divide by 12. Cut and divide the dough into 12 equal-sized balls. I use a straight edge bench scraper for this.
- Work with one ball at a time, always keeping the rest covered with plastic or a towel. Press each ball into a flat square using your fingers.
- Next, tuck the four corners of the square into the center. Gently roll the folded dough in your palm to re-form a ball.
- Place each ball, seam-side down, in a well-buttered 9 inch round pan. Brush their tops with one-half of melted butter, and sprinkle with rolled oats. Cover with plastic, and place in a warm spot of the kitchen that's free of drafts. In winter, I place it in the microwave oven with a cup of hot water. (Just remember not to turn on the microwave!)
- Let rise until doubled in size, about two hours. (In high altitudes, this may take as short as 1 hour.)
Bake the Rolls
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Remove the plastic, and bake the rolls for 35 – 40 minutes at sea level, or as long as 50 minutes at high altitude. The rolls should sound hollow when tapped, and the internal temperature should be 190˚ – 200˚F at sea level, and at least 180˚ – 185˚F at high altitude.
- Remove from the pan onto a cooling rack, and baste with the remaining butter. Allow to cool for 5 – 10 minutes (if you can) before serving.
- These rolls freeze well, and will keep in the refrigerator for 1 week or longer. I always warm them a little before serving again.
Notes
How Can I Substitute Instant Yeast for Active Dry Yeast?
I usually use Active Dry Yeast because it's more readily available, but if you have Instant Yeast, you can use it instead. Many bakers prefer Instant Yeast because it dissolves instantly when it comes into contact with liquid. Here are some rules for making this substitution:- Reduce the amount of yeast by 25%.
- Skip the step of dissolving the yeast in the warm water, and whisk it directly into the flour.
- You must still add the 1/4 cup liquid to the dough that's called for dissolving the Active Dry Yeast, in addition to the milk.
Wendy Klik says
They are gorgeous and I’ll bet the molasses was amazingly flavorful.
Rebekah R Hills says
These look amazing! I love the color and depth of flavor molasses adds to bread like this.
Karen says
These are sooo pretty! I love the oats decorating the outside. P.S. I used to reduce the instant yeast by 25 percent as mentioned, and then I got lazy and add it one for one, lol.
Kelly says
Oh wow, that split roll with butter looks SO good!
Swathi says
These oatmeal roll with molasses looks delicous I like to have them for my breakfast with some fruit spread.
Radha says
Love the color of these rolls. Amazing rolls.
namita says
The rolls look amazing and delicious. The step by step instructions are so helpful. I am going to bake these soon.
Tiffany says
These rolls look so soft and delish! I have a big weakness for bread and rolls. Thanks for sharing the recipe, and it goes without saying that I’m pinning. 🙂
Tiffany
mjskitchen says
I’m a sucker for any bread with molasses. These looks delicious!
Michael Simmons says
Those rolls look scrumptious, Susan! I have a big weakness for bread and rolls. I’ll be maple butter would be fantastic on these! Thank you, Susan for this wonderful recipe! Pinning!
kitchensinn says
Always get new recipes from your blog. I really love this oatmeal rolls idea. Thank you for sharing it.